Techniques for wirelessly controlling push-to-talk operation of half-duplex wireless device

• US 7,818,037 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2006
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Freelinc Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Radeum, Inc.
• Inventors: Lair, John, Dobyns, Douglas H., Sutera, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): CAI, WAYNE HUU
• Application Number:
  US11/469,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20070004464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/41.2, 455/517, 455/519, 455/569.1, 455/518, 455/575.2, 455/74.1, 455/407, 455/408, 455/420, 455/425, 455/556.1, 455/557, 455/575.6, 455/90.2, 381/74, 381/370, 381374-383
• US Class Current: 455/575.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3866 carried on the head
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a communications system implementing a microphone wirelessly connected to a half-duplex communications device, such as a two-way radio or a radio-simulating cellular phone. The microphone may incorporate a transmit/receive switch wherein a transmit signal is wirelessly transmitted from the microphone to the communications device to direct the communications device to enter into a transmit mode. The microphone may communicate with the half-duplex communications device through a magnetic induction link.

Claims

1. An apparatus for wirelessly communicating audio information to and from a half-duplex wireless communications device, the apparatus comprising:

an adapter for coupling to the half-duplex wireless communications device, and

a microphone assembly for wirelessly communicating information to the adapter;

wherein

said microphone assembly comprises;

a speaker to output audio information to a user;

a microphone to receive audio information from the user;

a switch;

a microphone transceiver to wirelessly transmit information to the adapter; and

a microphone processor for receiving information from the microphone, switch and microphone transceiver and providing information to the speaker and microphone transceiver, the processor providing a first transmit mode signal indicating a status of the switch and a signal representative of the audio information received from the user to the microphone transceiver for transmission to the adapter, wherein the signal representative of the audio information is not transmitted to the adapter based on control information received from the adapter; and

said adapter comprises;

an interface for coupling to the half-duplex wireless communications device;

an adapter transceiver to wirelessly receive from the microphone assembly the first transmit mode signal and the signal representative of the audio information; and

an adapter processor operably coupled to the interface to provide a second transmit mode signal to the half-duplex wireless communications device upon receipt of the first transmit mode signal, wherein, if the first transmit mode signal switch indicates that the switch is engaged, the second transmit mode signal is used to control the half-duplex wireless communications device to enter a half-duplex transmission mode for the half-duplex wireless communications device to wirelessly communicate the signal representative of the audio information to another wireless communications device.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the adapter processor provides the signal representative of the audio information to the half-duplex wireless communications device through the interface.

3. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the adapter processor receives audio information from the half-duplex wireless communications device through the interface and transmits at least a portion of the audio information through the adapter transceiver.

4. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the adapter is integrated with the half-duplex wireless communications device.

5. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the adapter is separate from the half-duplex wireless communications device.

6. The apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a mechanism that disables the adapter, the mechanism configuring the adapter such that the half-duplex wireless communications device operates as if the apparatus is not present.

7. The apparatus is in claim 6, wherein the mechanism causes a microphone in the half-duplex wireless communications device to function.

8. The apparatus is in claim 6, wherein the mechanism causes a speaker in the half-duplex wireless communications device to function.

9. A microphone assembly for use with a half-duplex wireless communications device, the microphone assembly comprising:

a microphone to receive audio information from a user;

a switch; and

a short range wireless transceiver adapted to wirelessly transmit at least one signal through a short range wireless link to at least one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and an adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device, the at least one signal comprising information indicating a status of the switch and information representative of at least a portion of the audio information received at the microphone,

wherein, when the switch is engaged, the information indicating the status of the switch comprises information indicating that the switch is engaged, the information indicating that the switch is engaged is used to control the half-duplex wireless communications device to enter a half-duplex transmission mode for the half-duplex wireless communications device to wirelessly communicate the information representative of the at least a portion of the audio information to another wireless communications device, and

wherein the information representative of the at least a portion of the audio information is not communicated to the at least one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device based on control information received from the at least one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device.

10. The microphone assembly as in claim 9, wherein the short range wireless transceiver comprises an induction transceiver and the short range wireless link is a near field magnetic induction link operating over a limited range, thus forming a small operational bubble.

11. The microphone assembly as in claim 10, wherein the limited range is about two meters.

12. The microphone assembly as is in claim 10, wherein the induction transceiver is adapted to indicate that the magnetic induction link absent.

13. The microphone assembly as in claim 12, wherein the induction transceiver indicates that the magnetic induction link is absent by causing a speaker to output an audible indication.

14. The microphone assembly as in claim 12, wherein the induction transceiver indicates that the magnetic induction link is absent by causing a vibrator to vibrate.

15. The microphone assembly as in claim 10, wherein the magnetic induction link operates at a frequency from 10 MHz to 15 MHz.

16. The microphone assembly as in claim 9, wherein the microphone assembly further comprises a speaker to output audio information to the user.

17. The microphone assembly as in claim 9, wherein the at least a portion of the audio information received at the microphone is transmitted as packetized digital information.

18. The microphone assembly as in claim 17, further comprising:

an encoder adapted to convert an analog signal representative of the at least a portion of the audio information received at the microphone into a digital signal; and

a processor operably coupled to the encoder and the short range wireless transceiver, the processor adapted to packetize the digital signal;

wherein the short range wireless transceiver is further adapted to wirelessly transmit the packetized digital signal.

19. The microphone assembly as in claim 17, wherein the packetized digital information is encrypted.

20. The microphone assembly as in claim 9, further comprising:

a processor operably coupled to the short range wireless transceiver, the processor adapted to store a security code, the processor enabling the short range wireless transceiver when a matching security code is stored at the at least one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device.

21. The microphone assembly as in claim 9, further comprising an indicator for indicating that the short range wireless link is established with the at least one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device.

22. The microphone assembly as in claim 9, wherein the short range wireless transceiver shuts down after the short range wireless link is absent for a predetermined period of time.

23. The microphone assembly as in claim 9, wherein the short range wireless transceiver receives operational power over the short range wireless link.

24. The microphone assembly as in claim 23, further comprising a battery and wherein at least a portion of the operational power received over the short range wireless link is stored in the battery.

25. The microphone assembly as in claim 9, further comprising another transceiver for wirelessly transmitting the at least a portion of the audio information from the user, wherein the other transceiver is a radio frequency transceiver.

26. The microphone assembly as in claim 25, further comprising another switch for activating the radio frequency transceiver when the short range wireless link is absent.

27. The system as in claim 9, wherein the microphone assembly is comprised by one of a handheld speakermic, handheld microphone, earset and headset.

28. An apparatus comprising:

an interface for coupling to a half-duplex wireless communications device;

a short range wireless transceiver adapted to receive at least one signal through a short range wireless link from a device comprising a switch and a microphone, the at least one signal comprising a first transmit mode signal indicating a status of the switch and information representative of at least a portion of the audio information received at the microphone;

a processor operably coupled to the short range wireless transceiver for receiving the first transmit mode signal indicating the status of the switch and the information representative of the at least a portion of audio information, the processor operably coupled to the interface for providing a second transmit mode signal to the half-duplex wireless communications device, wherein, if the first transmit mode signal indicates that the switch is engaged, the second transmit mode signal is used to control the half-duplex wireless communications device to enter a half-duplex transmit mode for the half-duplex wireless communications device to wirelessly communicate the information representative of the at least a portion of the audio information received at the microphone to another wireless communications device,

wherein the information representative of the at least a portion of the audio information is not communicated to the apparatus based on control information transmitted from the apparatus.

29. The apparatus as in claim 28, wherein the processor is adapted to provide the information representative of the at least a portion of the audio information received through the short range wireless transceiver to the half-duplex wireless communications device through the interface.

30. The apparatus as in claim 28, wherein the information representative of the at least a portion of the audio information is communicated to the apparatus based on status of the switch.

31. The apparatus as in claim 28, wherein the short range wireless transceiver is an induction transceiver and the short range wireless link is a near field magnetic induction link operating over a limited range, thus forming a small operational bubble.

32. The apparatus as in claim 31, wherein the limited range is about two meters.

33. The apparatus as in claim 31, wherein the magnetic induction link operates at a frequency from 10 MHz to 15 MHz.

34. The apparatus as in claim 28, further comprising an indicator for indicating that the short range wireless link is established with the device.

35. The apparatus as in claim 28, wherein the processor receives audio information from the half-duplex wireless communications device through the interface and transmits at least a portion of the audio information through the short range wireless transceiver.

36. The apparatus as in claim 28, wherein the device comprises one of handheld speakermic, handheld microphone, earset and headset.

37. The apparatus as in claim 28, wherein the first transmit mode signal is received from another device that includes a switch and does not include a microphone.

38. The apparatus as in claim 28, wherein the apparatus is integrated with the half-duplex wireless communications device.

39. The apparatus as in claim 28, wherein the apparatus is separate from the half-duplex wireless communications device.

40. The apparatus as in claim 28, wherein the processor is adapted to store a security code, the processor enabling the apparatus only where a matching security code is stored at the device.

41. The apparatus as in claim 28, wherein the apparatus draws operational power from the half-duplex wireless communications device.

42. The apparatus as in claim 28, further comprising a mechanism for disabling the apparatus while the apparatus is coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device, the mechanism configuring the apparatus such that the half-duplex wireless communications device operates as if the apparatus is not present when the mechanism disables the apparatus.

43. The apparatus as in claim 28, further comprising another switch for causing the half-duplex wireless communications device to function without the device.

44. The apparatus as in claim 28, wherein the short range wireless transceiver is adapted to provide operational power to the device.

45. The apparatus as in claim 28, further comprising another transceiver for receiving signals from the device, wherein the other transceiver is a radio frequency transceiver.

46. The apparatus as in claim 45, wherein the processor activates the radio frequency transceiver upon detecting that the short range wireless link is absent.

47. A system comprising:

one of a half-duplex wireless communications device and an adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device; and

a device comprising a switch and a microphone adapted to receive audio information from a user, the device wirelessly-coupled through a short range wireless link to the one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device,

wherein the device is adapted to wirelessly transmit at least one signal through the short range wireless link, the at least one signal comprising information representative of at least a portion of the audio information and information indicating a status of the switch, wherein, when the switch is engaged, the information indicating the status of the switch comprises information indicating that the switch is engaged, and wherein the device does not communicate the information representative of the at least a portion of the audio information to the at least one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device is based on control information received from the at least one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device, and

wherein, when the information indicating the status of the switch comprises the information indicating that the switch is engaged, the information indicating that the switch is engaged is used by the one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device to control the half-duplex wireless communications device to enter a half-duplex transmission mode for the half-duplex wireless communications device to wirelessly communicate the at least a portion of the audio information to another wireless communications device.

48. The system as in claim 47, wherein, when the switch is engaged by the user, the information indicating that the switch is engage is communicated to the one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device.

49. The system as in claim 47, wherein the short range wireless link is a near field magnetic link operating over a limited range, thus forming a small operational bubble.

50. The system as in claim 49, wherein the limited range is about two meters.

51. The system as in claim 49, wherein the magnetic induction link operates at frequency from 10 MHz to 15 MHz.

52. The system as in claim 47, wherein the device is adapted to indicate that the short range wireless link is absent.

53. The system as in claim 52, wherein the device indicates that the short range wireless link is absent by outputting an audible indication.

54. The system as in claim 50, wherein the device indicates that the short range wireless link is absent by vibrating.

55. The system as in claim 47, wherein the one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device is adapted to indicate that the short range wireless link is established.

56. The system as in claim 47, wherein the device comprises a speaker.

57. The system as in claim 56, wherein the one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device is adapted to wirelessly transmits audio information for reception by the device through the short range wireless link.

58. The system as in claim 57, wherein the audio information transmitted from the device and the audio information transmitted from the one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device is transmitted as packetized digital information.

59. The system as in claim 47, wherein a security code is stored at the device and the short range wireless link is established upon a determination that a matching security code is stored at the one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device.

60. The system as in claim 47, wherein the device shuts down after the short range wireless link is absent for a preset period of time.

61. The system as in claim 47, wherein the device receives operational power from the one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device over the short range wireless link.

62. The system as in claim 61, wherein at least a portion of the operational power received over the short range wireless link is stored in a battery at the device.

63. The system as in claim 47, wherein the one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device includes a mechanism that shuts down the short range wireless link and activates a microphone and speaker in the half-duplex wireless communications device.

64. The system as in claim 47, wherein the device includes another transceiver for transmitting the information representative at least one of a portion of the audio information and the information indicating a status of the switch, the other transceiver being a radio frequency.

65. The system as in claim 47, wherein the device comprises one of a handheld speakermic, handheld microphone, earset and headset.

66. A system comprising:

one of a half-duplex wireless communications device and an adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device;

a first device comprising a switch, the first device wirelessly coupled through a first short range wireless link to the one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device; and

a second device comprising a microphone adapted to receive audio information from a user, the second device wirelessly coupled through a second short range wireless link to the one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device,

wherein the first device is adapted to wirelessly transmit information indicating a status of the switch through the first short range wireless link for reception by the one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device, and wherein, when the switch is engaged, the information indicating the status of the switch comprises information indicating that the switch is engaged,

wherein the second device is adapted to wirelessly transmit at least a portion of the audio information through the second short range wireless link for reception by the one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device, and wherein the second device does not transmit the at least a portion of the audio information to the at least one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device based on control information received from the at least one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device to control the transmission; and

wherein, when the information indicating the status of the switch comprises information indicating that the switch is engaged, the information indicating that the switch is engaged is used by the one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device to control the half-duplex wireless communications device to enter a half-duplex transmission mode for the half-duplex wireless communications device to wirelessly communicate the at least a portion of the audio information to another wireless communications device.

67. The system as in claim 66, wherein at least one of the first the short range wireless link and the second short range wireless link is a near field magnetic link operating over a limited range, thus forming a small operational bubble.

68. The system as in claim 67, wherein the limited range is about two meters.

69. The system as in claim 67, wherein the magnetic induction link operates at frequency from 10 MHz to 15 MHz.

70. The system as in claim 66, wherein the system is adapted to indicate that the short range wireless link is absent.

71. The system as in claim 66, wherein the system is adapted to indicate that at least one of the first short range wireless link and the second short range wireless link is established.

72. The system as in claim 66, wherein, when the switch is engaged by the user, the information indicating that the switch is engage is communicated to the one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device.

73. The system as in claim 66, wherein the first device includes a speaker for outputting audio information received from the one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device.

74. The system as in claim 66, wherein at least one of the first device and the second device receives operational power through the corresponding at least one of the first short range wireless link and the second short range wireless link.

75. The system as in claim 66, wherein at least one of first device and the second device comprises one of a handheld speakermic, handheld microphone, earset and headset.

76. The system as in claim 66, wherein the audio information transmitted by second device is transmitted as packetized digital information.

77. The system as in claim 66, wherein a security code is stored at least one of the first device and the second device and the corresponding first short range wireless link and second short range wireless link is established upon a determination that a matching security code is stored at the one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device.

78. A system comprising:

one of a half-duplex wireless communications device and an adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device;

a device including a switch, a microphone adapted to receive audio information from a user, and a transmitter for wirelessly communicating through a short range wireless link with the one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device, wherein the device is adapted to wirelessly transmit at least one signal through the short range wireless link, the at least one signal comprising information representative of at least a portion of the audio information and information indicating a status of the switch, wherein, when the switch is engaged, the information indicating the status of the switch comprises information indicating that the switch is engaged, wherein the device does not communicate the information representative of the at least a portion of the audio information to the at least one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device is based on control information received from the at least one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device, and wherein, when the information indicating the status of the switch comprises the information indicating that the switch is engaged, the information indicating that the switch is engaged is used by the one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device to control the half-duplex wireless communications device to enter a half-duplex transmission mode for the half-duplex wireless communications device to wirelessly communicate the at least a portion of the audio information to another wireless communications device; and

a cord for attaching the device to the one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device, the cord for providing power to the device from the one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device, wherein at least a portion of the power provided through the cord is for use by the transmitter when wirelessly communicating with the one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device.

79. The system as in claim 78, wherein the device includes a battery and at least a portion of the power provided through the cord recharges the battery.

80. The system as in claim 78, wherein, when the switch is engaged by the user, the information indicating that the switch is engage is communicated to the one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device.

81. The system as in claim 78, wherein the information representative of the at least a portion of the audio information is communicated to the one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device based on status of the switch.

82. The system as in claim 81, wherein the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device is integrated with the half-duplex wireless communications device.

83. The system as in claim 81, wherein the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device is separate from the half-duplex wireless communications device.

84. The system as in claim 81, wherein the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device is coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device through a microphone jack.

85. The system as in claim 81, wherein the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device is included in the cord.

86. The system as in claim 78, wherein the at least one signal is transmitted to the one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device through the cord when the cord is attached to the one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device.

87. The system as in claim 78, wherein the transmitter transmits audio information from the device to the one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device.

88. The system as in claim 87, wherein the audio information is transmitted from the device to the one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device through the cord when the cord is attached to the one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device.

89. The system as in claim 78, wherein the device further comprises a speaker that outputs audio information received from the one of the half-duplex wireless communications device and the adapter coupled to the half-duplex wireless communications device.